Plan Ahead to Say Goodbye to Annual Weeds and Hello to Higher Quality Hay

Sponsored content created by Jason Belcher, stewardship and development manager - Eastern U.S., Bayer Environmental Science

While it might seem early, now is the time for hay growers to start thinking about controlling fall and winter annual weeds. In recent years, growers throughout the South have reported struggles in controlling weed infestations. This means fall and winter annual grasses and broadleaf weeds are taking up important spaces, reducing the quality and quantity of hay across the region. This is a significant issue that’s costing growers profit, but it can be fixed.

Jason Belcher, stewardship and development manager, Eastern U.S., Bayer Environmental Science, talks about how a flexible application window with Rezilon® herbicide benefits growers.

The key for growers to maximize desirable grasses and profit is to plan ahead and be proactive about protecting their hayfields. This change of mindset can deliver results and peace of mind all season long. When it comes to controlling fall and winter annual weeds, Bayer Range & Pasture recommends an application of Rezilon® herbicide in the late summer while following label directions carefully. There are several reasons why an early application of Rezilon delivers unrivaled control of annual weeds:

  1. It has long residual activity. Once applied, Rezilon can remain on the soil surface with no degradation from sunlight while waiting on rainfall for activation. This means growers can apply the treatment early and not have to worry about its effectiveness later.

  2. It’s easier and more effective. Controlling weeds before they emerge is more effective than controlling them once they have germinated. When weeds have already germinated or perennial species are present, growers need to take extra, more difficult steps like tank-mixing for postemergence control. Rezilon is an easy-to-use preemergence herbicide that’s effective for annual grass and broadleaf weed control. Growers could see higher-quality forage on their first cut as a result of controlling annual weed species early.

  3. It can lead to long-term control. Rezilon provides extended weed control other products cannot match. It has a unique mode of action that provides effective, long-lasting control of troublesome weed species, even those that are resistant to other herbicides, such as glyphosate. This translates into less frequent applications and increased quality and production from the fields.

  4. It gives growers flexibility. Weather can be unpredictable in the fall, with windy or rainy conditions often hindering applications. The residual that Rezilon offers gives growers greater flexibility, allowing for earlier application for preemergence control ahead of any adverse weather.

Rezilon controls more than 60 broadleaf and annual grass weeds, including species that have developed herbicide resistance, such as ryegrass. Using Rezilon herbicide as directed can lead to higher quality hay on the first harvest, and it also reduces the time and money hay growers would need to spend on additional herbicide applications.

If it seems too early to start planning for fall and winter results, it is actually the right time. Bayer Range & Pasture encourages hay growers in the South who are struggling to control annual weeds to visit Rezilon.com to learn more about solutions and contact a representative.

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of healthcare and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to benefit people by supporting efforts to overcome the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development, and the Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2018, the Group employed around 117,000 people and had sales of 39.6 billion euros. Capital expenditures amounted to 2.6 billion euros, R&D expenses to 5.2 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

Legals:

ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Not all products are registered in all states and may be subject to use restrictions. The distribution, sale, or use of an unregistered pesticide is a violation of federal and/or state law and is strictly prohibited. Check with your local dealer or representative for the product registration status in your state. Bayer Environmental Science, a Division of Bayer CropScience LP, 5000 CentreGreen Way, Suite 400, Cary NC 27513. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-800-331-2867. www.environmentalscience.bayer.us. Not all products are registered in all states. Bayer, the Bayer Cross and Rezilon® are registered trademarks of Bayer Group. ©2022 Bayer CropScience LP.